Modern technologies data transmission is so advanced that everyone has long been accustomed to transmit various digital information via an Internet connection. We communicate with friends using video and audio calls, send and download huge files, watch videos directly from website pages, play various online games or even surf the net. To perform such operations, a wide communication channel is often required, i.e., a high speed of the Internet.
Unfortunately, even the most advanced technologies fail from time to time. One of the most annoying problems that users have to face global network- slow internet. Why might this be happening? In fact, there are a lot of reasons why the connection starts to work poorly. Consider the most common of them.
Before proceeding with any programmatic actions, you need to make sure that the poorly functioning Internet is not caused by a hardware failure. If this is the situation in your case, the first thing you need to do is follow these simple steps:
If none of the above options apply to you, then the problem is most likely in the software.
Checking the system settings of the Internet connection
The reason why the Internet began to work poorly may be incorrect system settings. Often the reason for this is a slow proxy server through which the computer tries to access the network. To check this, you need to do the following (for example, Windows 7, 8):
If after that the Internet began to work faster, then it is clear why the braking occurred. A proxy server is a server through which a computer tries to access the network, i.e. traffic does not pass directly from the site to the user, but through intermediary connections. If the proxy is this moment works poorly, then the connection speed, as a result, will also be low.
What to do if it didn't help? Fortunately, we have a few more options in store why the Internet has become slow. Let's consider them.
Traffic leak
The options for solving problems listed above are the simplest and most obvious. The bulk of the reasons why a network connection starts to work very slowly lies in traffic leakage. This means that your communication channel is used by third-party programs or even other users. Let's figure out what to do in such situations.
The communication channel is clogged due to the fault of the programs
Exists great amount malicious (yes, and not malicious) programs that can download something in the background, i.e. without the knowledge of the user. And this can be verified. Applications that can track the actions of other programs on the network will come to the rescue. One of these is Networx.
With the help of this convenient and very simple program, you can not only measure the current speed of the Internet, but also view information about the current state of the communication channel. Networx shows in detail what programs are currently running on the network, and what speed they consume. To get this information, you need to do the following:
If you see a program using Networx that consumes a lot of traffic, just end it. Make it simple. Select the desired application, right-click on its name and select "End Application": 
It also happens that it is simply impossible to complete the application. This usually happens in the case of virus programs that block themselves. In such situations, there is nothing left to do, except to install an antivirus and completely scan the system.
Another reason why the Internet suddenly began to work very slowly is updating the antivirus or operating system. As you know, an antivirus program or system can be updated without any warning. In the first case slow speed the connection is fast, because the antivirus usually downloads small files. Things are different with updating the operating system - it can download rather bulky data, which is why the Internet will be very slow for a long time.
To test this, do the following:
- Go back to Control Panel.
- Find the "System and Security" section and go to it.
- Next, go to the "Windows Update" section.
- Here you will see if the system is currently being updated.
- If you see a picture similar to what is shown in the figure above, you just have to wait until the system downloads the updates completely or interrupt the process (if you really need high-quality Internet at the moment).
The slow speed of Internet access can often be due to the fact that the traffic goes to the communication devices of other users in the local network. Let's consider a similar situation.
Low speed due to user actions on the local network
If you are currently located, for example, in an office where all computers are combined into local network, then the fault of the slow Internet is most likely the actions of your employees. They may be downloading some files at the moment, which will affect the speed of the Internet on all computers on the network.
If you are using Wi-Fi, then the traffic may go to the side for the reason that someone knows the password from your wireless network and just use it at the moment. This can be checked, however, this will require the presence of certain skills in working with Wi-Fi routers.
Consider the situation with the TP-Link Wi-Fi router. First you need to go to the web interface of the device. To do this, in any browser, open the address - "192.168.0.1" or "192.168.1.1". If the router settings have not been changed by the user, then a small form will open for you to enter your login and password. Each router has different settings. In our case, this is the login admin and the password is also admin.
After entering the data in the form and clicking OK, we will get to the device web interface: 
Here we need to get information about users currently connected to the Wi-Fi network. In our case, you need to open the “Wireless Mode” item in the right menu, and then select “Wireless Mode Statistics”. 
Here is the information we need. We see that at the moment 4 devices are connected to the router, 3 of which are some other users.
Thus, we can conclude that now your Internet is being used on other computers. Perhaps they are the reason for the low speed of network access from your PC. In this case, you need to change the password from the Wi-Fi network.
In contact with
Internet speed drops can be affected by:
- Extraneous programs running in the background and downloading updates
- Windows automatic update
- Viruses
- It could also be an ISP issue.
If the problem is not in the provider, then you need to do the following:
Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete (Task Manager appears)
Go to the "Processes" section
At the very first start of Windows in this window, on the Processes tab, as a rule, about 15-20 processes fit, the so-called system processes, which are required for the correct operation of the system. All further additions of processes are already user applications.
If you roughly remember what processes you usually have enabled, then you can "catch" the process that slows down the Internet speed.
If you don't remember, then experiment. All processes launched from the Admin (user), you can safely end
If suddenly after the completion of the process your computer rebooted, it's okay!!! Breaking the computer by terminating processes is also impossible!!!
If it doesn't help, then you should disable "Windows Automatic Update" if it is connected at all.
You also need to try disabling the Windows Firewall, which can also be found in the "Control Panel", which is launched from the "Start" menu
Disabling these services from the "Control Panel" items is not enough, you also need to disable them using the "Services" tool, from the "Administration" item on the "Control Panel":
You should check your computer with an antivirus, preferably even two.
First, check with a second antivirus
At the end of the scan, click "show a list of infected objects" or something like that.
Select all infected objects with checkboxes and delete ALL
After uninstalling, it will ask you to restart your computer, allow it.
ATTENTION: if the antivirus finds a virus in the drivers\str.sys folder, it will not be able to remove it, but you need to remove it
The realities of modern life are such that at present a person has become very dependent on the Internet, because everything is in it: work and leisure, as well as constant communication with relatives, friends and colleagues. It is not surprising that as soon as the data transfer rate becomes very small and the usual operations of the user begin to take too much time, then the eternal question “What to do?” the first thing that comes to a person's mind is to blame the provider. And in such a situation, of course, he is right, but only half. Because for effective solution problems, it is necessary to identify the true reason why the data transfer speed sometimes drops when working on the Internet. The main reasons why the Internet speed has dropped are detailed below and specific recommendations are given on how to proceed.
Why is the internet slow?
There are only two possible answers to this question:
- Failures in the functioning of the provider's equipment;
- User problems.
The user cannot influence the first reason. Even if one is out of order network hardware or it started to work incorrectly, then the company engaged in the supply of communication services already knows about the failures and takes all the required measures to eliminate them as soon as possible.
But the second category of reasons, for example, failures in a PC or router, can only be influenced and corrected by the owner himself. Therefore, at the first sign of a poorly functioning Internet, it is most advisable to first analyze the condition of your equipment.
Internet browser problem
The first thing to do when solving the problem of why the Internet speed suddenly became slower and the pages in the browser open at a very low speed is to test its performance in another Internet browser. If you find a good and fully functional work in another browser, then a simple reinstallation of the familiar, but problematic browser should help. 
Traffic overload
The most common reason why low speed Internet is a banal overload of the user's Internet channel. It is recommended to check if one of the many gadgets at home is downloading updates software or a torrent client is running that is trying to save a large file or archive in the device’s memory. You should also pay attention to some of your household members playing an online game or watching a movie in high quality, because they simply take away almost all traffic resources. Also, for example, while downloading from a torrent, the speed may drop if the number of people sharing a file becomes significantly less than the number of people downloading the same file. 
Computer overload and malware
A very important criterion that affects the speed of networking is the possible overload of the PC, or it is simply very weak with outdated hardware.
It is necessary to perform several sequential steps:
- Launch the "Task Manager", for example, by calling the context menu from the taskbar and clicking on the line with the appropriate name;
- Analyze the degree of loading indicated in "%". If there are tasks consuming more than 90 percent, you should find out the purpose of the process and, if possible, complete all unnecessary tasks;
- It is possible that the list will include processes activated by malicious applications. It is required to carry out a full scan with an anti-virus utility with a preliminary update of its databases.
To make sure that the user's PC does not meet the modern requirements, you just need to compare its work by connecting to the Internet using a modern tablet or laptop. This technique is used by IT experts.
Malfunction of PC cooling systems
Unexpectedly, after a short work after loading the computer, the Internet speed may disappear due to excessive temperature rise of various computer components. You can install an application to measure the degree of heating of PC parts. If problems with overheating are detected, it is urgent to debug the cooling system, including complete cleaning of the accumulated layer of dust. 
Router failure
It is not uncommon for routers to malfunction. It is recommended to simply restart it. Sometimes nearby Wi-Fi hotspots interfere. It is necessary to try to change the channel in the device settings and use the trial method to select the most optimal channel for the conditions of the user's router location.
You also need to look at the characteristics of the device. Sometimes the bandwidth of the router does not match and is much lower than that supplied by the provider over the wire. It is recommended to study the accompanying instructions for the router and, if necessary, replace it with a more modern and powerful one. To make sure that the router is the narrow link in the chain, you just need to connect the PC to the network directly with a cable (bypassing the router). With satisfactory data transfer rates during a direct connection, it is already possible to draw a bold conclusion about the problem device.
If the implementation of all of the above options did not lead to success, then you can consider the reasons due to the fault of the provider, for example, what to do if the Internet data transfer rate from Rostelecom has dropped.
Why is Rostelecom's Internet speed low?
Often, RTK subscribers receive numerous complaints about the provider. And this is not surprising, since the "army" of users of this Internet provider is one of the largest in Russia. Especially in the evenings on holidays and weekends, the provider's servers are overloaded, which immediately affects the quality of customer service. Unfortunately, only one thing can be recommended here - this is to transfer your work time on the global network to another time.
It happens that the speed decreases significantly after changing tariff plan. For example, after the end of the promotion period, Rostelecom sometimes transfers the subscriber to another plan.
If it is impossible to eliminate the causes, you need to contact the technical support of the provider, for example, if it is an RTK, then in "http://rostc.ru/service/kak-pozvonit-operatoru-rostelekom/".
They face cases when it becomes unbearable to open web pages, download files, etc. At the same time, it is obvious that the connection to the network has problems that greatly affect the efficiency of work. There are several main reasons why the Internet speed has dropped. Let's consider them in more detail.
Why Maybe problems in the hardware?
The first thing to do is call your ISP. Such companies work with complex equipment that provides users with access to the network, there are frequent cases of its failure, temporary shutdown due to technical or preventive work or even testing. A call to the Internet provider will give an answer to the question of why the Internet speed has dropped. Here, unfortunately, there is nothing to do, it remains only to wait.
A very common cause of speed loss is a malfunction of the end equipment (modem, Wi-Fi point, wired or wireless network card, etc.). During malfunctions, a phenomenon such as packet loss occurs. This means that the information breaks off somewhere in the middle, some time passes, then work resumes. But if there are frequent packet losses, then, accordingly, it seems that the Internet speed has dropped significantly. A simple "PING" command will help determine the malfunction. If you have Windows OS, then you need to do the following:
So, we will find out if there are problems in the hardware, but what if the software part is the reason for everything?
Software reasons why the Internet speed has dropped
Many programs or their incorrect settings can cause a drop in connection speed. If the Internet speed has dropped sharply, then a faulty proxy server may be the reason for this. If it is registered in the settings of your browser, you should remove it or register a working one.
The presence of viruses is one of the more common causes of Internet malfunctions. As a rule, they download any data from the network, thereby overloading the channel.
If you have Wi-Fi, and the password for it is not set, it is possible that neighbors are using your Internet. In this case, a password must be set.
This is how you can determine why the speed of the Internet has dropped. But if fixing each of the problems did not lead to anything, it is possible that someone is deliberately blocking the speed - this is especially true for networks where the system administrator controls everything. His actions can be the cause of this phenomenon.
The upload speed can be adjusted both at the software level and at the provider level. Often, low upload rates depend on the tariff you choose and the quality of the service provided. Try asking your provider for details of all the options in your plan. Most of the new providers provide services in an equivalent division of speed, for example, outgoing and speed = 10 Mb / s.
When using various torrent clients, you need to make sure that the "return" is not artificially reduced. An example will be considered on one of the common uTorrent clients. Launch it by double-clicking on the desktop icon. If at the end of the work it was closed from the tray, the program window should not appear on the screen. Open the main window by double-clicking on the tray icon.
Right-click in the lower right corner of the utility ("Return" line). Select the appropriate speed by clicking the left mouse button on this value. Please note that when using torrent clients, the upload speed also depends on the number of people distributing at the moment. The peak of this parameter, as a rule, is reached only late at night (due to the difference in time in time zones).
Low speed initially at the hardware level. To check this, you need to launch the browser and enter the address http://192.168.1.1 in the address bar and press the Enter key. In the window that opens, enter admin as the login and password, then click the "OK" button.
On the loaded page, go to the first Device Info tab (Information, Info, etc.). Find the Line Rate - Upstream parameter. Some models of ADSL modems do not allow you to “overclock” over 768 Kbps, and this is a rather low speed. Increase speed in this case possible only by changing the corresponding equipment.
Despite the widespread belief that low-quality work the Internet the provider is to blame, many users themselves create a similar problem for themselves. This is due to a large number of factors.
Instruction
Quite often, the reason for the slow loading of web pages can be the computer itself. Comparatively old, and therefore weak, computers are unable to process a large number of operations. Sometimes a weak processor and an integrated video card are simply not able to quickly process incoming information. Because of this, it creates the feeling that you are working with a low-quality Internet channel.
Most often, such connection slowdowns occur due to the abundance of unnecessary background processes. This factor also affects the overall. A certain group of programs during the installation process integrates files into the startup menu. This causes many of them when you turn on the computer. If these programs use the Internet connection to perform various operations, then this can significantly clog the overall channel.
This problem is usually solved by cleaning the startup menu. Type msconfig in the "Run" menu, go to the "Startup" tab and uncheck the utilities that are not used all the time.
Even those programs that the user constantly uses can "clog" the Internet channel. Such applications include various download managers, such as . Turn them off when you want to ensure high speed network access.
The low quality of the equipment used can affect the speed of your Internet connection. Many people connect several computers and laptops to relatively weak router models. Naturally, this leads to the fact that the channel is divided between the specified devices. If the router cannot cope with the load, then the network may experience certain delays in data transfer.
Naturally, problems can also be caused by a malfunction of the provider's equipment, in which case it is better to contact technical support a certain firm.